chronicles of a girl on the run with her dog

The Mud Run That Wasn’t

Post mud run, (which I didn’t run), kneeling on the field, music blaring and almost 2 beers in, I had a great funny blog flowing in my head. Right now. Zip. What can I say about a race I didn’t run? Nothing.

shock tops make for creative writing

10 minutes later on the computer…

The 99th Camp Pendleton “World Famous Mud Run” took place this last Saturday. It was a race I had every intention of running. That is, until I strained my calf, yet again, just 5 days beforehand. I played it smart this time. I didn’t run the race. I know, you are shocked. Me too. Good girl for once! However, I had this trip planned for months, mostly to visit my good friend and muddy race buddy, Beth in San Diego, so I was still going to SD, staying with Beth, which meant I was going to the race.

me and my girl beth

Marines, Mud and Music
So, this is how my day went. Our team captain, Tracie (a fitness trainer in everyday life) ordered us to arrive at her house at 5:15 a.m. Yes Ma’am! This, like the last time when we did the Spartan Race, was in my opinion waaaayyy too early to get up (4:30 for us!) for a race that began at 9:15. Okay, I wasn’t even running so it was extra hard for me! Camp Pendelton is in Oceanside about an hour away. I’m not great at math, but I still knew this was a bit of overkill.

Still… Since, I was just along for the ride, a mascot, an ambassador, a team player, there to support the ladies and have fun, I didn’t chime in voicing my reticence.

I will admit, the idea of hanging around a bunch of Marines did make the early hour easier to swallow. Needless to say, we got to the base and were bused to the “training area/10K course” with 2 hours to spare. Phew, we made it! Now what?

Stand around.

Walk around.

Take pics. A lot of them.

With Marines. Ooh Rah!

And wait. And wait. And wait.

the team ~ ybf (you’ll be fine) + our token marine

Finally it was time for the gang to run off. I had to entertain myself for the next hour or so. I walked ahead and waited for Beth and Tracie to run by. Beth was fired up as you can tell.

go beth (who btw came in first for the group ~ a total rockstar) and team captain tracie!!!

I made a friend as I took this pic, another runner who was injured and couldn’t participate. He and I walked back to the festival area, chatted a bit and then parted ways. I was starving now and was somewhat surprised by the cruddy junk food offerings. I ended up at the dippin’ dots food truck, bypassing the corn dog, kettle corn, and nacho trucks. Are we at a carnaval? I was under the notion that Marines ate healthy. Boo Rah!

The dippin’ dots truck also offered bagels and cream cheese, so I got one, cinnamon raisin with some cream cheese and a water. I found a picnic table at the back of the lawn, across from the 80’s throwback band, to sit on and ate my food. The beer garten was just down the way. I was tempted to partake, but decided to wait until the group finished. Even though it felt like it was mid-day to me (up for 5 hours already), it was still only 9:45 in the morning. Kinda early for a brewski… right?

We had a meeting spot for after the race, although I knew they would be able to find me as I was still dressed in the hot pants and skin tight neon green tank top feeling very self conscious about the fact that my ass was being highly showcased. It was supposed to be perfect for the mud run–not parading solo around a field of military men. This was more challenging for me than if I had done the run itself. Ooh Ugh!

Our meeting place was at this big ol’ military beast of a truck and since I was hanging around the truck I got to get to know the marine who was stationed there “guarding” it. Basically he had to drive it there as he is one of the few men on base that has a license to drive all the different military vehicles, or so he claimed. He told me he was 23 and thought I was in my late 30’s (thanks mom and dad for the young genes) and then he said the best thing… he said, ‘I know I shouldn’t say this, but you have the sexiest legs I’ve ever seen.’ Oooooh Raaaaah! I know… he was just shooting me a line, but lets just roll with it for the moment. (thanks!)

um… dude, you are squeezing me just a little too tight! military men!

This excited me for one reason and one only. I struggle constantly with my curvy body. I just am built that way naturally and unless I like to dine on one almond a day, as my son says skinny women do, I have to accept my looks. Wearing the costume helped me in my never ending endeavor to “embrace my body.”

It wasn’t long before I saw the young boys who were part of our group come in, mud already showered off. Maybe twenty minutes later I saw Beth and Tracie, still muddy. We snapped a few more pics. With the cute marine of course!

muddy girls and blake… lol

The ladies then cleaned up and we headed to the festival, grabbed a few beers, sat on the lawn and enjoyed the 80’s era band. Beth and I giggled a bit about things I was going to write about. That was the beer writing. I wish I had a good memory, because I have NOTHING from that to give you. So when you have nothing left to say, post pics!!

party on ~ tricia, me, beth and tracie

I actually do have one more thing to say. The Muddiest Race at Camp Pendleton looks like it would be fun. Although I am glad that I did not run this year, there is always next which will celebrate their 100th race anniversary. I will say that there was plenty of things going on at the festival for the spectators to indulge in while waiting. The music was good, the beer flowing, there were things to eat and an assortment of carnival like activities, including a rock wall to climb and a zip line to fly across part of the field. So, if you like to get muddy and run, you might like this race.

Now, if I can get Beth to write about her experience, I’ll post it here. Then you will find out what the race was like.